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Scoping Summary Report 3.0 INTEGRATION OF ISSUES WITHIN THE EIS Most of the issues raised through scoping will be integrated into the EIS through revision of the alternatives under consideration and the approach taken in analyzing impacts. 3.1 REVISION OF ALTERNATIVES UNDER CONSIDERATION Reclamation received extensive comments regarding the alternatives for the lOP. As a result of the comments received, Reclamation has added one additional lOP alternative for analysis in the EIS. This alternative is the elimination of the forgiveness of payment in years when Reclamation makes a flood control or space building release, The proposed lOP contains the provision that in a year during which the Secretary makes a flood control release or a space building release, an accumulated amount in an overrun account would be forgiven. The 1 additional No Forgiveness alternative to be analyzed in the ElS would eliminate that provision of the lOP. Under the No Forgiveness alternative, during a flood control or space building release year, the overrun amount to be paid back would be deferred, but not forgiven. Payback would resume in the next year when flood control or space building releases are not scheduled. 3.2 GENERAL APPROACH TO ANALYSIS OF IMP ACTS The process for analyzing the environmental impacts involves identifying and estimating certain background or baseline information for six different geographic areas (which include the mainstream of the Colorado River within the Lower Basin and its historic floodplain, the Salton Sea, and the water service areas and Colorado River water conveyance facilities of liD, CVWD, MWD, SDCWA). Resource areas to be considered in the ElS include the following: Hydrology/water quality/water supply, biological resources, power generation, land use, recreation, agricultural resources, socioeconomics, environmental justice, cultural resources, Tribal resources, air quality, and transboundary impacts. The time frame for the analysis of the lA, including the changes in points of diversion for the participating California agencies will extend forward for 75 years, from 2002 tn ?nzz. As the biological conservation measures are related to the IA, the timeframe for the analysis will also extend forward for 75 years, from 2002 to 2077, The timeframe for the analysis of the lOP will extend forward for 30 years, from 2002 to 2032. "7 The process for analyzing the environmental impacts involves establishing baseline or current conditions for each geographic area of analysis for each resource area. The RiverWare computer simulation model (described below), the Biological Assessment, current data and other current reports or studies are being used to determine the probable environmental impacts of the proposed project. Due to the bulk of materials relating to the Lower Basin of the Colorado River, material may be incorporated by reference. Where material is incorporated by reference, a summary of that material will be provided in either the text of the EIS or as an appendix. All material incorporated by reference will be available for public viewing at locations to be determined. lA, lOP aud Related Federal Actions EIS 15